Norm’s Story

In the 1900s, industry in the United States exploded. Factories were booming and workers were busy producing items for an assortment of uses. Some of those items, including floor tiles, decorative paints, insulation, cement, adhesives, electrical wires, ceiling tiles, roofing shingles, joint compounds and others, contained asbestos.

Norm, a Simmons Hanly Conroy client, spent years in occupations that made or used asbestos products in the manufacturing process. In 1949, at the age of 12, he began working with his father in the family HVAC business. He went on to become a member of the U.S. Navy where he worked as an experimental sheet metal worker making boiler plates for nuclear submarines and joined the Sheet Metal Workers’ Union. After serving his country, Norm started his own general building and remodeling company.

“Norm learned the value of hard work at a young age,” said asbestos attorney Taylor Kerns. “Sadly, it was through this work that he was first exposed to asbestos-containing products.”

In March 2010, just four years after retiring – and 61 years after he first started working with asbestos products – Norm was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

“Norm had no idea that the materials he was working with on a daily basis, such as joint compound, floor tile, roofing shingles, and cement pipe, would eventually result in a fatal disease,” Kerns said. “Not once during his long career working with asbestos was he ever warned about its hazards.”

Prior to his diagnosis, Norm had been an active, healthy individual who enjoyed being outdoors and taking part in many hobbies. His diagnosis caused him to spend his last days struggling to breathe or to get out of bed. Sadly, Norm passed away in January 2012.

Seeking Justice Through a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Before Norm passed away, he and his wife Gail secured a settlement with help from Simmons Hanly Conroy. It provided Norm peace of mind about his family’s future. One aspect of this peace of mind came when Norm and Gail paid off their mortgage and held a mortgage burning party.

Our mesothelioma lawyers are proud to work with individuals like Norm to secure the justice they deserve. Mesothelioma is a devastating and unfair disease, and companies responsible for asbestos exposure should be held accountable.

If you are faced with a situation similar to Norm’s, we’re here to help. Learn more about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit with Simmons Hanly Conroy today.

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